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Michigan advances to Big Ten title game

By Nathan Baird nbaird@jconline.com
8:11 p.m. EDT March 15, 2014

Michigan players dance around on the sideline as they react to a play in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2014, in Indianapolis. Michigan won 72-69. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)(Photo: Kiichiro Sato)

On an afternoon when Michigan seemingly couldn't miss from 3-point range, Nik Stauskas' final attempt caromed off the back iron.

Fortunately for the Wolverines, Caris LeVert was in the wrong place at the right time.

LeVert swooped into the lane for the rebound, which led to a Spike Albrecht free throw. When Aaron Craft bobbled the ball on a potential game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer, No. 1 seed Michigan had a 72-69 victory Saturday and a berth in Sunday's Big Ten tournament championship.

"I'm actually not supposed to offensive rebound at all — I was supposed to be back on the play," LeVert said. "Coach (John) Beilein just told me about that.

"The whole game they weren't really boxing me out because I was supposed to be back. I noticed when the shot came off a it was a little short. I knew I could get the rebound."

LeVert, a Pickerington, Ohio, native who was born in Columbus, finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. The Wolverines beat Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament for the first time in seven tries.

Defending champion Ohio State trailed by 16 in the first half and as many as 12 in the second. Just as they had on Friday, rallying from an 18-point deficit to beat Nebraska, the Buckeyes turned takeaways into points and rallied to regain the lead with less than three minutes to play.

But regular season champion Michigan made critical plays in the clutch, including a nifty up-and-under layup from Big Ten Player of the Year Stauskas for a 71-68 lead with 2:04 to play.

"I feel so fortunate right now," Beilein said. "You look at so many of our games down the stretch here ended like this and the ball keeps bouncing our way. The only way you can have that kind of luck is if you have guys like the ones sitting next to me. They make enough smart plays to keep you in games and sometimes tghe ball just bounces your way."

Ohio State senior guard and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Craft went to the bench with his fourth foul with 11:44 left. Stauskas hit a pair of free throws to give Michigan a 58-51 lead.

Junior guard Sam Thompson stepped up to spark the Buckeyes, finishing a block at one end with a layup at the other and crushing an alley-oop with eight minutes left to give Ohio State a 61-60 lead.

"It was amazing to just watch from the sideline," said Craft, who collected nine points, seven rebounds, six assists and four turnovers. "They were doing a phenomenal job. They finally got us the lead and got over that hump. Down the stretch I was hoping I could come in and make a difference."

Ohio State coach Thad Matta said there was "no question" that Craft had to re-enter the game, which he did with 2:55 to play. He drew a shooting foul on his next offensive possession but missed both free throws, just before Stauskas' highlight reel layup made it a three-point game.

In a matchup between the Big Ten's stingiest 3-point defense and its second-best 3-pointing team, the Wolverines' arsenal of shooters dominated the first 14 minutes. Six Six different Michigan players hit 7 of their first 10 while building a 32-16 lead.

Michigan finished 12 of 23 from 3-point range (52.2 percent).

"We've got six of our eight that can make 3s," Beilein said. "And pretty much, they have different green lights, but they have green lights. So when they're shooting it well, we can spread people out."